c-peptide and Gastritis--Atrophic

In patients suffering from chronic pancreatitis with concomitant atrophic antral gastritis, gastrinemia is less whereas the response of pancreatic enzymic secretion to pentagastrin is more potent than in patients suffering from chronic pancreatitis without atrophic alterations in the gastroduodenal mucosa. The pancreas-stimulating effect of pentagastrin administered in a dose of 6 micrograms/kg is approximately equal to the action of 0.5 U/kg pancreozymine and noticeably yields to the effect of 1.5 U/kg pancreozymine (according to the criteria for output of intraduodenally secreted lipase and trypsin). The same diagnostic dose of pentagastrin used commonly for gastric secretion studies not only stimulates pancreatic enzyme secretion but also enhances the activity of beta-cells of Langerhans' islets of the pancreas in accordance with insulinemia and blood C-peptide determined by RIA.

Topics: C-Peptide; Cholecystokinin; Chronic Disease; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Gastrins; Gastritis, Atrophic; Humans; Insulin; Islets of Langerhans; Pancreas; Pancreatitis; Pentagastrin; Recurrence

Radioimmunological assay was used to study the content of insulin and C-peptide in the blood bath in conditions of basal incretion and 1 and 2 hours after a test breakfast in 12 healthy subjects, 36 patients with duodenal ulcer and 20 patients with chronic atrophic gastritis. It was found that patients with duodenal ulcer showed an increased hormonal activity of the pancreas leading to exhaustion of its reserve capacities. In patients with chronic atrophic gastritis reserve hormonal capacities of the pancreas were maintained and somewhat elevated.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; C-Peptide; Duodenal Ulcer; Gastritis, Atrophic; Humans; Insulin; Insulin Secretion; Islets of Langerhans; Middle Aged